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Charles Richards Obituary
Charles was a graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois and received his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in various locations around the Pacific. In 1952, he accepted a professorship at the Botany Department of the University of Maine, Orono where he taught until 1982, retiring with professor emeritus status. He was a noted botanist and a member and president of the Jocelyn Botanical Society of Maine. During his career he was requested by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate the flora of the St. John River Valley at which time he found the Furbish Lousewort, an endangered plant species not recently identified in Maine. After retirement, he spent many years at his cottage on Great Wass Island in the Town of Beals, Maine, cultivating a most extraordinary flower and moss garden which was featured in several prominent magazines including Downeast Magazine and House and Garden. Charles enjoyed traveling with his wife Kathryn to many destinations around the world including Africa, Turkey, Great Britain, Australia and Hawaii.
Charles is survived by his five children and their spouses, Laurence D. Richards and his wife Jane of Richmond Indiana, Irene L. Inman and her husband Kerry of Abington, Pennsylvania, William D. Richards and his wife Donna of Scotia, New York, Donald R. Richards and his wife Laurel of Rockport, Maine and Kenneth R. Richards and his wife Stephanie of Bloomington, Illinois. He is additionally survived by 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
No funeral will be held but a a gathering of family and friends will be held next summer to remember him and his legacy. In lieu of flowers the family would encourage gifts in his name be made to the Orono Public Library or the Jonesport Public Library.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Charles Richards
Martha Barron Barrett
October 16, 2019
Yesterday, Oct 17, 2019, I was casually conversing with the lady sitting beside me in Ellsworth's LLBean Discount store. We discovered were coastal neighbors: I live summers in Milbridge and she on Beal's--"actually Great Wass." The name Chuck Richards puzzled her until I mentioned "moss gardens." She then more or less exploded about their loveliness, peace, how she thought he should have put a little donation cup somewhere: "just so we could have thanked him." I didn't have time to say "All he wanted was for you to stop at the house and introduce yourself" before I had to hurry off. But she called after me:"Please tell his family that we remember and thank him."
I'm glad of this opportunity to do that. And to add that the great- grandchild we share--Eliza Richards is the child of his grandson Evan and my granddaughter Teresa Barrett Richards--is absolutely the most brilliant, amazing, cutest. loving two-year-old on the face of the earth.M
Bud Brown
September 10, 2018
I stopped by Chuck's home on Great Wass last Friday September 7, 2018 and found everything grown over. He was a friend and mentor and just a great man.
November 1, 2015
I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to know Chuck Richards and spend time with him talking about gardening. He was a passionate gardener. He nurtured and cherished his little bit of paradise on Great Wass Island. All who had the good fortune to visit him were inspired.
Ralph Cleale
October 25, 2015
Am so sorry to know that we can no longer visit him and his garden each summer. He was generous with his time and his knowledge.
Ralph Cleale, Limington, ME
Martha Barrett
October 23, 2015
Sincere condolences to all the family and friends of this gracious, energetic man. In spite of both being at UMaine in the '50's and both having summer cottages nearby on the coast we did not meet until his grandson, Evan, and my granddaughter Teresa, decided to marry. I treasure the memory of our friendship.
Jim and Tina Koehler
October 22, 2015
What an accomplished man with such a lovely family. Our sincere sympathies for your loss.
Dr. Arthur Allen
October 22, 2015
To Dr. Richards' Family: Our last visit with Chuck in April was very meaningful and comfortable. The many visits to his natural garden and arboretum demonstrated his love of the botanical world. I served as an undergraduate and graduate student assistant with him in the 50's at UMO. His teaching and guidance propelled me into the botanical and wildlife sciences for life. I hope that his flower and moss garden on Great Wass Island will become a research/study site with The Univ.of Maine. God bless all of you; he will be missed by many others. Dr. Arthur Allen and wife Bonnie, 53 Alan-A-Dale Road, Brewer, ME 04412
Josh and Laura Young
October 22, 2015
He sounds like an incredible man who lived an incredible life. Our deepest sympathies to the family.
Kathy Brown
October 22, 2015
A great professor and gentleman. Dr. Richards was the first person to greet and welcome me to Deering Hall as a freshman in 1973 as I looked to figure out my academic direction. He immediately made me feel welcomed, taking the time to sit down to talk with me about my
interests. I immediately knew I had found my major.
His classes were always engaging. In particular I enjoyed his Foraging class where we learned about all the plants on campus that were edible. Our end of semester class was a trip to his beautiful place on Great Wass for a wonderful day of foraging for plant and foods from the ocean, followed by preparing them for our lunch.
Sincere condolences to the family in the loss of your father and grandfather. I feel fortunate to have known him.
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